It's not easy when even articles which state clearly the heart is not fully formed until weeks after the muscle pulse can be first detected describe that pulse as a heartbeat.
It's like saying an automobile chassis on an assembly line is a car.
When does a fetus have a heartbeat?
In most cases, an ultrasound can detect the beating of cardiac tissue around weeks five to six. Typically, the heart will form within the next few weeks.
One of the milestones of fetal development is when the heart begins to beat. Usually, it may be possible to see the first visible sign of the embryo, known as the fetal pole, at roughly 5–6 weeks of pregnancy.
Below, we look into the timeline of a fetus developing a heartbeat and describe how and when a healthcare professional can detect it.
When does a fetus have a heartbeat?
Before about week 8 of pregnancy, a doctor may refer to the fetus as an embryo.
Cardiac tissue starts to pulse at around 5–6 weeks of pregnancy, registering as a heartbeat on the ultrasound, though the heart has not developed yet. Also, it may be possible to see the first visible sign of the embryo, known as the fetal pole, at this stage.
The heart of a fetus is fully developed by the 10th week of pregnancy. Learn more about the development of the heart in weeks 5–10 below.
Week of pregnancy Level of heart development
week 5 The developing heart is made up of two tubes that have fused in the middle, creating a trunk with four tubes branching off. Cardiac tissue begins to contract, and it may be possible to detect it using vaginal ultrasound. week 6 The heart of the embryo has changed dramatically — the basic heart tube has looped, forming an “S” shape. week 7 The pumping chambers, or ventricles, and receiving chambers, or atria, of the heart begin to separate and develop. week 8 The valves between the atria and ventricles of the heart form. weeks 9 and 10 The aorta and pulmonary vein form. By week 10, the fetal heart has developed fully.
Cardiac contractions will be visible by ultrasound well before they are audible with typical Doppler handheld devices in offices.
During an ultrasound between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy, a healthcare professional will check the fetal anatomy, including the heart.
The heart rate of a fetus changes as it develops. In general, the rate is 110–160 beats per minute.
How a heartbeat is detected
A pregnant person may undergo a scan to detect the fetal heartbeat at different stages of pregnancy. A doctor may recommend a scan as early as 6 weeks if the person has had spotting, bleeding, or problems with a previous pregnancy.
[Insert: "A doctor may...as early as 6 weeks if....", yet after 6 weeks no abortion. For many more women these days even the thought of pregnancy must be daunting. Under these misnomered "heartbeat" bills many may even see the process as torture.]
A healthcare professional may perform an ultrasound in the first trimester to:
confirm the pregnancy and check the age of the fetus check for a suspected ectopic pregnancy evaluate bleeding or pain check the number of fetuses check the heartbeat of the fetus look for any fetal or uterine abnormalities look for and remove an intrauterine device
A healthcare professional can detect the heartbeat of a fetus in numerous ways, including:
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Summary
The heart of an embryo starts beating at about week 5 of pregnancy. It may be possible to detect the heartbeat at this point using vaginal ultrasound.
Throughout the pregnancy and delivery, healthcare professionals monitor the heartbeat of the fetus.
If a pregnant person has concerns about the fetal heartbeat, they should contact a doctor or midwife.
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